Charles d



(ModeL) C.D. BLAKESLEE.

.FOLDING TABLE.

Patented Sept.-26,- 1 882.

WITNESSES: V 4%. Q/ M'/a/m ATTORNYS.

. UNITED STATES CHARLES 1). BLAKESLEE, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNQR TO HIMSELF AND ERASTUS J.

PATENT OFFICE.

HORTON, OF SAME PLACE.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 265,010, dated September 26, 1882.

Application filedOctoher 29, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES D. BLAKES- LEE, of Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and-State of Michigan, have invented certain useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of this invention is to provide a table which may be folded into small compass for convenience in transportation, moving, and stowing away.

The invention relates to the construction and arrangement of parts, whereby the hinged braces of the folding legs are held in place both when the legs are extended and folded, and whereby the folding side leaves are supported when extended. Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved folding table as it appears when unfolded and the leaves raised, ready for use. Fig. 2 is an end elevation, partly in section, one leaf only being raised. Fig. 3 is a bottom view, partly in section. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional elevation showing the manner of bracing the legs. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional elevation showing the position of the parts when the tableis folded up; and Fig. '6 is a similar view of a portion of the table, showing the position of spring and brace when the legs are being folded.

The frame of the table-composed of the side boards, a a, and the end boards, I) b-and the center panel, A, placed upon and secured to the frame, are of ordinary form and construction. The leaves 0 (l, which are hinged in the ordinary manner to the side edges of the main center panel, A, are divided, forming the parts a c, which parts are hinged together, as shown. The parts 0 of the leaves are made about the same width as the side boards, a a, of the frame, so that when the leaves are let down the-parts c are adapted to fold under the edges of the said side boards and lie parallel with the main center panel, as shown in Fig. 5, under the folded legs of the table.

The legs 01 d are secured at their upper ends to the crosspiece D, which is hinged to the (ModeL) under side of the main panel A by the hinges e c, and this cross-piece is provided with the hinged braces f f, the ends of which are adapted to engage with the stops it for holding the legs in vertical position for supportiin g the table, as shown in Fig. 4.

The legs 9 g of the table are secured at their upper ends to the cross-piece G, which is narrower than the cross-piece D, and is hinged by the hinges h h to the cross-piece H, which is fixed in the frame of the table. This cross-piece G is provided with the hinged braces f f, which are adapted to engage with the stops 2" i for holding the legs in a vertical position in the same-manner that the legs 01 d are held.

In order to hold the ends of the braces f and f in engagement withthe stops Z and i, I provide the bottom of the main panel with the double strap-springs jj, the ends of which impinge against the braces and hold them in the position shown in Fig. 4 when the legs are unfolded or brought to position for supporting the table.

In folding thelegs the braces ffof the crosspiece D must first be drawn down against the tension of the springs jj, so as to permit the ends of the braces to pass the stops, thus permitting the legs 11 (Z to be folded flat against the under side of the main panel. The legs g g are then in like manner to be released from the stops and folded down upon the legs at cl, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 and in full and dotted lines in Fig.5.

The supports B B for the leaves 0 O of the table are formed of the arms E E, which are hinged together by the hinge e, and are hinged at their outer ends by the hinges'h h to the plates F F, which slide in the ways g g, formed on the outside of the side boards, a a, of the frame of the table, and thus permit the supporting-arms E E to be drawn out any distance for supporting one or both parts of the to move simultaneously, and all danger of crampin g of the plates is thus obviated.

When both parts of the leaves 0 G are to be raised the supports will be drawn entirely out, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and as an additional support for the parts 0, I provide the parts 0 with the pivoted plates L L, which may be turned so as to reach under the parts 0 or turned to either side, as shown clearly in Fig. 3, so as not to interfere with the folding up of the said parts of the leaves.

By this construction the table is made more convenient than tables of ordinary construction, and when folded up it is very compact and occupies very small space, which is a great advantage in moving, transporting, and stowing away when not in use.

I am aware it is not new to provide fixed stops and spring-supports for braces hinged to folding table-legs, and do not claim broadly such combination of parts.

Having thus fully described my invention, I

1. The combination, with hinged bracesff 25 and the folding legs. d and g and stops z i, of the flat springj, which is securedto the tabletop, and has its end portions bent downward, as shown, to accommodate said braces and hold them in place when the legs are folded or extended, as specified.

2. Thesupporting-armsEE,hingedtogether and hinged at their outer ends to the sliding plates F F, as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The side boards, a, of the frame of the table, formed with the ways g, in combination with the sliding plates F and. the hinged arms E, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In combination with the hinged arms E E and the sliding plates F F, the cords 1m and staples p 10, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

GHARLES D. BLAKESLEE.

Witnesses:

H. S. BAILEY, F. It. SMITH. 

